Process for treating ores.



Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

MHT/V555 JAMES AINSLEIGH MQLARTY, or Ton-oNTo, ONTARIO, CANADA.

- PROCESS FOR TREA'llIN G GRES.

Specication of Letters Patent. I

Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

Application led Apri1'18, 1913. Serial No. 761,940.

To all whom, 'it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES AINsLmoH MCLARTY. .of the city of Toronto, in the county of York, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes for Treating Orcs, of which the following is the specification.

My inv intion relates to processes for treating ores to facilitate the recovery of the metal contained therein, and it more particularly relates to iron and copper ores. It will, of course, be understood that the process is also appliable to other ores whether they are simple, that is one metal predominating, largely in the vein matter, or complex`whether two or more metals may be contained in the same vein matter.- For convenience in the descr1pt1on of the process I -will confine myself to iron ores and their direct conversion to steel without the` manufacture of pig iron and subsequent conversion, wherein I am enabled to eliminate the xed and volatileimpurities at a less cost than 'by present methods.

While any oxygen-containing ores of iron, copper and the like may be used, the process has been found to give particularly good results with hematite, magnetic iron sands, and the like.

The drawing shows a vertical section of a suitable container in which to carry out my process.

A is a container capable of being hermetically sealed. B is the hinged cover of the same. f

C is a movable inside container, for holding the ore to be treated, which may be made of any desirable mesh suitably reinforced so that a considerable weight of oremay be carried in it. y

D is `an exhaust pipe provided with a check valve capable of being adjusted to any pressure.

E is a mixtureof carbohydrate and hydrocarbons. f

I have discovered that by exposing ores or materials` containing metals to vapors generated at a comparatively low temperature, preferably about 100 C., although other suitable temperatures may be employed, viz. from 70 C.. up to 200 C., or more, from materials comprising a carbohydrate and materials comprising an oily carbon compound, I can produce a change in such ores which facilitates' the recovery of the metal or metals from their vein matter. In lieu of the carbohydrate, woody material, such as stated, I may use any other vegetable material, as, for example molasses, cane sugar, cotton waste, paper, excelsior, shavings, etc. A paste of cane sugar and oil gives good results. In lieu of crude petroleum oil, I may use the various petroleum preparations or derivatives such as kerosene, gasolene,

spindle oil, lubricating oil, still bottoms,

petroleum residues, etc., animal and vegetable fats and oils, alcohols or crude phcnols, but. petroleum oils appear to be more advantageous from an economical standpoint.

The heating of the carbohydrate and hydrocarbon may be accomplished in any suit-able manner. Flame heat is frequently used, but electric heat, jacket heat, using suitable heating fluid may be elnployed.

In the direct conversion of iron from its ore to steel, the iron ore in convenient sized pieces is placed in a cage. A mixture of a carbohydrate and crude petroleum oil is placed at the bottom of the container. The

lcage is lowered to its place. The cover is now placed on and hermetically sealed, and the air exhausted by any suitable means such as by an air pump or by blowing steam through the vessel or otherwise. The mixture of carbohydrate and oil is then yheated to a temperature of'100O more or less as above stated, whereupon gases will be evolved, which are allowed to come in Contactv with the ore in the receptacle, for a period of time varying with the temperature at which said hydrocarbon and carbohydrate are heated, and also with the size of the pieces of ore, and other conditions, but which may be from produce similar results to that produced the method previously described by lining the sides of the container A with a coating of cane sugar, coating the ore wlth crude petroleum oil, placmg 1t 1n the cage, sealing the cover, and applying ame to the whole of the outside. I allow the uncombined gases to contact with the heated ore for say from one to six hours.' y

A further modification of my invention may be carried. out by placing a carbohydrate and an oily carbon compound in the base of the container, placing the ore to be processed in the cage, lowering same to its place, igniting the mixture of carbohydrate and oily carbon compound, so as to insure the contact of the ore 'with the flaming gases. The gas so forming will prevent the entrance of atmospherlc oxygen. There is no attempt tocombi'ne or eliminate nitrogen at this stage of the process.` lVhen the carbon oxids and water are nearly expelled as ossible and the flames begin to darken, I c ose the container. Solne pressure is thereby generated. Undue pressure is obviated by the check valve on the exhaust pipe D. With this mixture of nascent gases, I allow the metal to contact for from one to six hours. The re-actions of what the metal picks up is somewhat obscure, and I content myself with noting the results obtained. On removing the cage from the container- I may now melt the metal in any suitable form of furnace. The sulfur and phosphorus will vaporize during Vmelting and the xed impurities, vein matter, etc., can be slagged ot without uxing. The molten metal may be cast into any convenient form free from blow holes, may be h ot worked, shaped into any convenient form without losing any of its newly acquired properties. The container may be of any suitable dimensions, shape or material. Oil may be added from time to time as may be required, through the pipe provided for the purpose. Steam may be blown in to eliminate excess of gases, and it is distinctly understood that at no stage of the process, either in the open or closed container is the heat ever allowed to approach red heat in the material being treated. The process may be continued for a suitable lengt-h of time to insure thorough impregnation of the ore with the nascent gases. The pressure in the treating chamber may be as desired and may be above, below or at atmospheric pressure.

Although I describe my process as applied to ores, it will be understood that it may also be applied to metals or alloys of metals.

Although in this specification, I have described the vapors being produced in the same container as that into which the material is placed, it will of course be under.- stood that the vapors may be produced in a separate container and carried, by any suitable conduit, to the container in which the ores or metals are placed.

Treating the ore with gases evolved by heating the. carbohydrate and hydrocarbon will convert'the ore into metal. 'Ihe metal so produced is especially valuable for the reason that it has acquired valuable properties in this, that itwill not rust nor corrode, as will ordinary metal such as iron, copper, etc., produced in the ordinary manner. Moreover, as stated above, it may be cast Wholly free from blow-holes, flaws and the like, and is capable of being tempered to any desired hardness. The treatment of the ore with lthe stated gases withoutignition of said gases is claimed in my cepending application, 7 60,913, tiled April 14, 1913.

wWhat I claim as my invention is l. A process of treating and reducing ores which comprises heating a mixture containing a carbohydrate and a hydrocarbon to a temperature materially below a red heat, igniting the gases and vapors thereby produced and treating the ore with said ignited gases and vapors.

2. A process of treating and reducing ores which comprises heating a mixture containing a carbohydrate and a hydrocarbon to a temperature of about 100 C., igniting the gases and vapors thereby produced and treating the ore with said ignited gases and vapors.

3.. A process of treating and reducing ores which comprises heating a mixture containing a carbohydrate anda hydrocarbon to a temperature materially below a red heat, igniting the gases and vapors thereby produced and treating the ore with said ignited gases and vapors, while in a compartment separate from said mixture.

et. A process of treating and reducing ores which comprises heating a mixture containing a carbohydrate and ahydrocarbon t0 a temperature materially below a red heat, igniting the gases and vapors thereby produced and treating the ore with said ignited gases and vapors, While said ore is at a temperature materially below a red heat.

JAMES AINSLEIGH MCLARTY.

Witnesses:

A. T. BOWLBY, B. BOYD. 

